Kalanchoe plant named ‘Meru Improved’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Kalanchoe  plant named ‘Meru Improved’, characterized by its compact, upright, uniform and strong growth habit; freely branching plant habit; glossy dark green-colored leaves; uniform, freely and early flowering habit; relatively large light pink and red bi-colored flowers; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Meru Improved’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe, botanically known as Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Meru Improved’.

The new Kalanchoe is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in De Lier, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely-branching and freely-flowering Kalanchoe cultivars with attractive foliage and flower coloration.

The new Kalanchoe originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in De Lier, The Netherlands in 1997, of the Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar Pablo, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,653, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary Kalanchoe blossfeldiana selection, designated as code number FK 3855, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The cultivar Meru Improved was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in De Lier, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Kalanchoe by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in De Lier, The Netherlands since August, 1999, has shown that the unique features of this new Kalanchoe are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Meru Improved has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature, daylength and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Meru Improved’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Meru Improved’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe:

-   -   1. Compact, upright, uniform and strong growth habit.     -   2. Freely branching plant habit.     -   3. Glossy dark green-colored leaves.     -   4. Uniform, freely and early flowering habit.     -   5. Relatively large light pink and red bi-colored flowers.     -   6. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the female parent, the cultivar Pablo. Plants of the new Kalanchoe differ from plants of the cultivar Pablo in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe are more compact than plants of         the cultivar Pablo.     -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe have larger flowers than plants         of the cultivar Pablo.     -   3. Plants of the new Kalanchoe and the cultivar Pablo differ in         flower color.     -   4. Plants of the new Kalanchoe have better postproduction         longevity than plants of the cultivar Pablo.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Kalanchoe differ from plants of the male parent selection primarily in flower color.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar Blanca, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in De Lier, The Netherlands, plants of the new Kalanchoe differed from plants of the cultivar Blanca in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe were more compact than plants of         the cultivar Blanca.     -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe had smaller leaves than plants of         the cultivar Blanca.     -   3. Plants of the new Kalanchoe had slightly larger flowers than         plants of the cultivar Blanca.     -   4. Plants of the new Kalanchoe and the cultivars Blanca         differedin flower color.     -   5. Plants of the new Kalanchoe had better postproduction         longevity than plants of the cultivar Blanca.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Kalanchoe, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Kalanchoe. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Meru Improved’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in De Lier, The Netherlands in a glass-covered greenhouse during the autumn and under conditions which closely approximate commercial production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 19° C. to 26° C., night temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 21° C. and light levels ranged from 10,000 lux to 55,000 lux. Unrooted cuttings were directly stuck in 12.5-cm containers and received long day/short night conditions (more than 14 hours of light) for about three weeks; plants then received photoinductive short day/long night conditions (minimum 14 hours darkness) until flowering. Plants were about 14 weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar Meru     Improved. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar             Pablo, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,653.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Kalanchoe             blossfeldiana designated as code number FK 3855, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About 14 to 17 days at temperatures             of 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About three to four             weeks at temperatures of 21° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; greyish white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant habit.—Compact, upright, uniform and strong growth             habit. Very freely flowering with numerous compound cymes.             Inverted triangle with rounded crown. Appropriate for 10-cm             to 15-cm containers.         -   Plant height at flowering.—About 17 cm.         -   Plant diameter at flowering.—About 14 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, usually about six to nine             lateral branches developed per plant. Pinching (removal of             the terminal apex) is not required but will enhance lateral             branch development. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 10 cm to 16 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 3 mm to 5 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 2 cm to 3 cm.         -   Aspect.—Erect.         -   Strength.—Moderately strong.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color.—147A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple; generally symmetrical.         -   Quantity per plant.—About 8 to 13 mature leaves and about 13             to 20 generative leaves.         -   Length.—About 9 cm.         -   Width.—About 7 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptic.         -   Apex.—Acute to obtuse.         -   Base.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Crenate.         -   Texture, upper and flower surfaces.—Glabrous; leathery;             succulent.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing and fully developed foliage, upper             surface: 147A; venation, 147A to 147B. Developing and fully             developed foliage, lower surface: 147B; venation, 147B.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm to 8 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: 147A to 147B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Flowers arranged singly in             compound dichasial cymes that arise from leaf axils. Uniform             and freely flowering habit with usually about 25 open             flowers and about 25 flower buds per lateral branch and more             than 200 open flowers and flower buds per plant. Flowering             continuously for at least seven weeks. Flowers persistent.             Flowers not fragrant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Kalanchoe             initiate and develop flowers under short day/long night             conditions or during the late autumn/winter/early spring.             Flower initiation and development can also be induced under             artificial short day/long conditions (at least 14 hours of             darkness).         -   Time to flower.—Early flowering habit; under short day/long             night photoinductive conditions, about eight to eleven weeks             are required. Actual time to flower is primarily dependent             upon temperature and light intensity.         -   Post-production longevity.—Excellent post-production             longevity; plants maintain good foliage and flower substance             for about 47 days under interior environmental conditions.             Individual flowers last about 20 days on the plant.         -   Flower diameter.—About 1.8 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 1.4 cm.         -   Flower bud.—Shape: Initially oblong, becoming tubular ovoid             with development. Length: About 9 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Color: Close to 138C becoming closer to 49D before opening.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Four fused at the base. Length: About             8.5 mm. Width: About 5 mm. Aspect: Flat to slightly upright.             Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening,             upper surface: Towards the apex, 19A; towards the base, 52A.             When opening, lower surface: 49A to 50D. Fully opened, upper             surface: Towards the apex, 56D to 155A; towards the base,             52B; color becoming closer to 155C towards the apex and 49C             towards the base. Fully opened, lower surface: 49A to 50D.         -   Sepals.—Appearance: Four fused at the base. Length: About             6 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Aspect: Erect. Shape: Oblong,             pointed. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth; glabrous. Color, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 138D.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3 mm to 5 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Aspect: Erect. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.             Color: 138B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: About eight             per flower. Anther shape: Elliptic, flat. Anther length:             About 0.3 mm. Anther color: Close to 150D. Amount of pollen:             Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 12A. Gynoecium: Pistil             number: About four per flower. Pistil length: About 1 mm.             Style length: About 1 mm. Style color: 138D. Stigma shape:             Flat. Stigma color: 8D. Ovary color: Close to 138D.         -   Seed.—Length: About 0.1 mm. Diameter: About 0.05 mm. Color:             Close to 166C. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe have been     observed to tolerate temperatures from about 16° C. to about 35° C. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe have not been     observed to be resistant to pests and pathogens common to     Kalanchoes. 

1. A new and distinct Kalanchoe plant named ‘Meru Improved’ as illustrated and described. 